Qishan Tianyuan Foods Co., Ltd

Visit to Qishan Tianyuan Foods Co., Ltd: Inheriting Intangible Heritage through Digital Intelligence, Empowering the Future through Innovation

At Qishan Tianyuan Foods Co., Ltd, the NPU-CHINA iGEM team conducted an in-depth research to explore the digital transformation of the traditional brewing industry. From the systematic visit to the vinegar culture exhibition hall, to the automatic cooking tanks and intelligent sensors, the team members deeply felt the perfect fusion of science and technology with traditional brewing techniques. The successful practice of Qishan Tianyuan in the closed-loop ecology of "planting - brewing - culture and tourism" has provided valuable experience for the modernisation of traditional industries. Ltd., the team witnessed how digital intelligence technology empowers the brewing of non-heritage liquor. From the ancient brewing heritage of the Fengxiang Traceability Journey, to the modern application of digital intelligent brewing technology, to the comprehensive construction of the green production system, Xifeng Liquor has interpreted the development concept of "keeping the right and innovation" with practical actions. These two researches not only let the students deeply understand the development path of traditional brewing industry in the new era, but also let them see the key role of digital and intelligent transformation in improving industrial competitiveness, which inspired them to think deeply about industrial innovation and practice with enthusiasm.

In the symposium, the enterprise introduced in detail its practice in the integration of three industries and rural revitalisation, as well as its future focus on new quality productivity, and its future focus on new quality productivity, and its future focus on new quality productivity, and its strategic planning. The team deeply felt that Qishan Tianyuan, while adhering to the tradition, is promoting the industry change with innovative thinking, and has walked out of a unique road of high-quality development through digital and intellectual transformation and industry chain extension.

Shaanxi Xifeng Liquor Co., Ltd

Exploring Phoenix Liquor Digital Intelligence Inheritance - Continuing Phoenix Fragrance with Digital Intelligence, Undertaking Ancient Rhythm with Craftsmanship

Shaanxi Xifeng Liquor Co., Ltd.'s research allowed the NPU-CHINA iGEM team to appreciate how digital intelligence technology can empower the brewing of non-heritage liquor. During the "Fengxiang Traceability Journey", the team visited the 701 Comprehensive Production Building, which follows the ancient method of turning the big quartz, and the 906 Workshop, which realises real-time monitoring of temperature and humidity and microbial activity, and deeply felt the perfect blend of tradition and technology here. Through the integration of ecological brewing, study and experience, cultural creativity and other diversified modes, Xifeng Liquor has built a national industrial tourism demonstration base, realising the deep integration of craft culture and tourism experience. At the symposium, the two sides carried out in-depth exchanges on topics such as digital intelligent brewing technology, rejuvenation product development, and the practice of dual-carbon goals. The team learnt that Xifeng Liquor has built a complete AI big data system to improve its production capacity and efficiency, but it still adheres to the natural cycle process in the core fermentation process, reflecting its adherence to traditional brewing techniques. The research made the team members deeply appreciate that Xifeng Liquor is writing a model for the transformation and upgrading of the traditional liquor industry with the concept of "keeping right and innovation".

Shaanxi FineLine Biotechnology Co., Ltd

A Biotech-Driven Cleaning Revolution

Ltd. provided the NPU-CHINA iGEM team with a vivid example of the innovative application of biotechnology in the cleaning industry. The team first visited the microbiology laboratory to learn about the company's concrete practice of replacing traditional chemical processes through biotechnology. Afterwards, in the symposium, both sides had a lively discussion on the application and development of biosynthesis science technology. The team shared the experience of bosonin synthesis by recombinant Pichia yeast system under development, and put forward the suggestion of "online simulation and pre-screening + accurate laboratory verification", which was positively responded by the enterprise. In addition, the two sides also carried out in-depth exchanges on topics such as university-enterprise cooperation to solve technical difficulties and promote the efficiency of results transformation. The research fully demonstrated the development concept of Kelingen "to cast the foundation of cleanliness by science and technology, to expand the road of industry by innovation", and also vividly interpreted the core value of the Human Practices session of the iGEM competition.

Yisaier Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

From Microbial Engineering to Industrial Application: A Field Study at Yisai'er Biotechnology

To explore the real-world application of biomanufacturing, our iGEM team visited Yisai'er Biotechnology, focusing on its innovations in the healthcare sector. We toured the biopharmaceutical R&D lab, observing workflows in strain cultivation and purification, and learned how microbial engineering enhances product efficacy. In the production facility, we studied the end-to-end quality control system, from sterile environments to rigorous product testing. Discussions with technicians revealed valuable insights into using biotechnology to improve product stability and reduce costs. This visit provided our team with a crucial understanding of scalable biomanufacturing and advanced quality management, offering a tangible reference for translating our synthetic biology projects into stable, real-world applications that align with iGEM's goal of benefiting industry and society.

Ningdong Forestry Bureau of Shaanxi Province

Biodiversity Survey for Sustainable Biomanufacturing

Aligning with iGEM's commitment to sustainable development, our team conducted field research in the Ningdong Forestry Bureau and Xunyangba, Shaanxi, focusing on the conservation and utilization of forest resources. We immersed ourselves in the forest areas, closely observing the growth environments of local characteristic plants and documenting species traits, growth cycles, and cultivation methods. Through exchanges with forestry staff, we gathered comprehensive data on the processing technologies, product types, and market feedback of these plant resources. This foundational work has enabled us to identify key challenges, such as extensive processing methods and low value-added products, and has provided critical firsthand data for exploring biotechnology applications in deep processing—like extracting active botanical compounds for traditional craft enhancement. This initiative establishes a basis for integrating biotechnology with traditional plant processing, paving the way for targeted technological solutions that support a sustainable bio-economy.

Shenzhen Major Research Infrastructure for Synthetic Biology

The team visited the Shenzhen Major Research Infrastructure for Synthetic Biology, conducting a systematic investigation of its core scientific platforms.

In the biosynthesis laboratory, members gained in-depth understanding of the central role played by high-throughput automation platforms in strain construction and screening, observing how parallel experiments rapidly optimize microbial cell factories. At the gene sequencing center, the team learned how next-generation sequencing technology provides crucial data support for strain identification, mutation verification, and transcriptome analysis, fully appreciating the synthetic biology closed-loop from genetic design to phenotypic testing.

Through exchanges with the facility's researchers, the team further understood the integrated R&D philosophy of "Design-Build-Test-Learn." Researchers shared examples of how this platform is used to rapidly develop efficient engineered strains and translate basic research findings into industrial applications. This research visit provided the team with a deeper understanding of the engineered and standardized research paradigm of synthetic biology, while also offering important references for the experimental pathway design and technical implementation of the iGEM project.

BGI

The team conducted an in-depth research visit to BGI, gaining systematic insights into the pivotal role of cutting-edge biotechnology in gene sequencing, biodiversity conservation, and research on traditional medicinal materials. In the gene sequencing laboratory, members learned about the complete workflow of high-throughput sequencing technology and its application in decoding the genetic maps of "authentic medicinal herbs," clarifying the scientific approach to identifying herb quality through genetic characteristics. In the biological resource conservation exhibition area, the focus was on the cryopreservation and gene bank construction practices for rare plants and medicinal germplasm resources, providing a technological model for biodiversity protection.

During the discussion session, the team engaged in thorough exchanges with BGI researchers on the innovative integration of synthetic biology and traditional crafts. We detail the core concept of "engineering biology" from the iGEM competition and, connecting it to our practical project, explored specific directions such as using synthetic biology tools to optimize metabolic pathways in traditional brewing microorganisms and enhance the biosynthetic efficiency of active components in medicinal herbs. This research visit not only broadened the team's understanding of modern biotechnology's application boundaries but also validated the feasibility of the iGEM "Design-Build-Test" cycle in addressing challenges within traditional industries, injecting solid scientific support and innovative inspiration into our project advancement.

Shaanxi Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Center

In the "Enduring Ingenuity" exhibition hall, the team observed live demonstrations of paper-cutting and shadow puppetry, and conducted a comprehensive study of exhibits including Qinqiang opera masks, Fengxiang clay sculptures, and ancient dyeing and weaving techniques. While interacting with inheritors of these traditions, the team paid special attention to ancient plant-based dyeing methods, noting that the use of plant pigments shared a core logic with the production of pigments using engineered microorganisms in synthetic biology. This insight provided key inspiration for the iGEM project, suggesting that applying synthetic biology to optimize traditional processes is both a technological innovation and a modern response to ancient wisdom. The team introduced the iGEM competition's philosophy of "using engineering approaches to solve real-world problems" to the inheritors and visitors, highlighting the potential of biotechnology to empower cultural heritage.

Bian Que Memorial Hall

At the Bian Que Memorial Hall, the team delved into the systematic approach and application of remedies in TCM by studying ancient medical texts and observing medicinal specimens. In discussions with the hall's experts, the team learned about the challenges in modernizing TCM and proposed innovative suggestions such as developing an interactive "Virtual Bian Que" explanation system. Crucially, the team re-examined TCM through the lens of synthetic biology, recognizing that the ancient practice of combining natural products shares fundamental principles with modern research into the biosynthetic pathways of these compounds. The team introduced the hall to cutting-edge iGEM projects where engineered strains produce plant-derived natural products, exploring the possibility of using synthetic biology for the sustainable production of active compounds from rare herbal medicines, thereby opening a new technological path for the living inheritance of TCM.